This report deals with services for a
population that is still relatively neglected: those falling
between child and adolescent psychiatry and learning disability
psychiatry.
It reviews the resources required for a
psychiatric service to young people, under 18 years, and their
families. Starting with an overview of the changing approaches to
the psychiatric needs of this population, the nature of its
disorders and the variety of interventions, it sets out the
characteristics of a model service dealing with its structure,
location, personnel and resources.
The report provides a draft standard
specification that can inform negotiations between service
commissioners, clinicians and general managers of mental health
services. While it focuses on the psychiatric element, it
recognises that such a service must be multidisciplinary and
multiagency and therefore must be seen within the wider range of
services supporting mental health. These include education, social
services, community child health and other agencies, such as the
employment support group Connexions.
The report is aimed at anyone involved in
planning or helping to develop a psychiatric service for children
and adolescents with intellectual disabilities.
This report replaces CR123 (and formerly
CR70), both of the same title.